16
1 The
LORD said to
Samuel, “How long
will you mourn
for Saul, since
I have rejected
him from being
king over Israel?
Fill your horn
with oil, and
go. I will
send you to
Jesse the
Bethlehemite, for
I have provided
a king for myself
among his sons.”
2 Samuel
said, “How can
I go? If Saul
hears it, he
will kill me.”
The LORD said, “Take
a heifer with
you, and say, ‘I
have come to
sacrifice to the
LORD.’
3 Call
Jesse to the
sacrifice, and I
will show you
what you shall
do. You shall
anoint to me
him whom I
name to you.”
4 Samuel
did that which
the LORD spoke,
and came to
Bethlehem. The
elders of the
city came to
meet him trembling,
and said, “Do
you come
peaceably?”
5 He
said, “Peaceably;
I have come to
sacrifice to the
LORD. Sanctify
yourselves, and come
with me to
the sacrifice.” He
sanctified Jesse
and his sons,
and called them
to the sacrifice.
6 When
they had come,
he looked at Eliab,
and said, “Surely
the LORD’s
anointed is before
him.”
7 But
the LORD said to
Samuel, “Don’t look
on his face,
or on the
height of his
stature, because I
have rejected him;
for I don’t see
as man sees.
For man looks
at the outward
appearance, but
the LORD looks
at the heart.”
8 Then
Jesse called Abinadab,
and made him
pass before Samuel.
He said, “The
LORD has not chosen
this one, either.”
9 Then
Jesse made Shammah
to pass by.
He said, “The LORD
has not chosen
this one, either.”
10 Jesse
made seven of
his sons to
pass before Samuel.
Samuel said to
Jesse, “The LORD
has not chosen
these.”
11 Samuel said
to Jesse, “Are
all your children
here?”
He said, “There
remains yet the
youngest. Behold,
he is keeping
the sheep.”
Samuel said to
Jesse, “Send and
get him, for
we will not
sit down until
he comes here.”
12 He
sent, and brought
him in. Now
he was ruddy, with
a handsome face
and good
appearance. The
LORD said, “Arise!
Anoint him, for
this is he.”
13 Then
Samuel took the
horn of oil
and anointed him
in the middle
of his brothers.
Then the LORD’s
Spirit came
mightily on David
from that day
forward. So Samuel
rose up and
went to Ramah.
14 Now the
LORD’s Spirit
departed from Saul,
and an evil
spirit from the
LORD troubled him.
15 Saul’s
servants said to him, “See
now, an evil
spirit from God
troubles you.
16 Let
our lord now
command your
servants who are
in front of
you to seek
out a man
who is a
skillful player on
the harp. Then
when the evil
spirit from God
is on you,
he will play
with his hand,
and you will
be well.”
17 Saul said
to his servants,
“Provide me now
a man who
can play well,
and bring him to
me.”
18 Then
one of the
young men answered
and said, “Behold,
I have seen
a son of
Jesse the
Bethlehemite who
is skillful in
playing, a mighty
man of valor,
a man of
war, prudent in
speech, and a
handsome person;
and the LORD
is with him.”
19 Therefore
Saul sent
messengers to
Jesse, and said, “Send
me David your
son, who is
with the sheep.”
20 Jesse
took a
donkey loaded with
bread, a container
of wine, and
a young goat,
and sent them
by David his
son to Saul.
21 David
came to Saul
and stood before
him. He loved him
greatly; and he
became his armor
bearer.
22 Saul
sent to Jesse,
saying, “Please let
David stand before
me, for he
has found favor
in my sight.”
23 When
the spirit from
God was on
Saul, David took
the harp and
played with his
hand; so Saul
was refreshed and
was well, and
the evil spirit
departed from him.